** IMPORTANT NOTICE – ACTION REQUIRED **

Dear Fox Valley Hawks Families,

On February 14th, 2018, USA Hockey began working on addressing the changes necessary to implement the USA Hockey SafeSport Program based on the United States government enacting the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017. The changes approved at the USA Hockey Annual Congress will directly impact our organization and its members. Previously, all staff 18 years and older including volunteers, coaches and managers were required to complete SafeSport training before they could be added to a team roster. They would be “greyed out” preventing them from being added to a roster until they completed the credential requirements, including the SafeSport course.

This new requirement now applies to players as well. USA Hockey is requiring all players 17 years of age or older on or before December 31st of that playing season, and who play on a team that rosters minor aged players (17 and younger), to complete SafeSport Training before being added to the team, and prior to participation with the team (on-ice or off-ice). This requirement applies to all teams, especially High School hockey programs that allow both minor age and adult age players (anyone 18 years and older).

If your son or daughter does not complete the SafeSport training by the first evaluation date, which is August 24th, they will be unable to skate until the training is completed. They will continue to be “greyed out” and will not be able to be placed on the team’s roster in the USA Hockey registration portal until they have completed the training. This will prevent them from being on the Official Roster.

Once the fall season is underway, players will be consumed with school, hockey, and other commitments. We are recommending your skater take the SafeSport Program NOW and not wait until it is time to be placed on a roster and the season gets underway.

The SafeSport Program is free. The program takes about 90 minutes to complete online. You must have a USAH Registration Confirmation Number to register to take the training. Players registered with USAH for the 2018/19 season can use the USA Hockey Confirmation Number for that season (which is valid until August 31, 2019) to register to take the training. They may also register with USA Hockey for the 2019/20 and use that confirmation number to register for the course. Registration for the SafeSport Program after September 1, 2019 requires a 2019/20 USA Hockey Registration.

To take the SafeSport Program, access the online program via the USA Hockey Website https://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining. Or use this direct  link to access the SafeSport site: https://safesport.org/authentication/register?token=71d4f2f9-bddb-4e6d-bb2a-37211b8999d9.

Thank you for your support of this new requirement. While we recognize the effort necessary to complete this new training requirement, through your help we hope to make this as easy as possible and the least disruptive in allowing your skater to be placed on a roster without missing any practices or games.